WAIT A SECOND...WHO'S TALKING HERE?

Have you ever had a wrestling match in your head, trying to figure out what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s reality?  Well, we all have.  Most of the time, whether we are right or wrong, it works in our mind to seek out some peace with our decision by justifying whatever it is we decided, and mostly after the fact.  But as believers, aren’t we supposed to be led by the Holy Spirit?  Easier said than done eh?  Well let’s take a look at “who’s talkin here”…

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​The first mention of “Spirit” is in Genesis 1:2… The Holy Spirit is God.
 
Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
 
So, we all know God is Spirit and in Genesis 2:7 God “breathed” life into us.  Look at what Job says about us,
 
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 
 
The Spirit of God made us and His breath gives us life.  Now that’s a hard concept to understand; especially with worldly teachings of evolution, that we came from monkeys or a meteor, evolved from mud, and/or a thousand other space jockey stories and theories put before us.  All of which are man’s feeble attempts to rationalize and disprove this simple fact, which must be accepted by faith…God made us and breathed life into us.
 
And here’s one we need to get out of the way early on in our scripture readings about the Holy Spirit,
 
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
 
“Our image”…? Who is “Our” image? “”Our” likeness?  What’s that? It’s the image and likeness of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit…the Trinity.  No, the word “trinity” is not in the Bible.  So?  Neither is the word “rapture” but we believers are all going to be raptured.  There is no room in this writing to get side-tracked about evolution, the Trinity, or the rapture for that matter, but one does not have to put much of a dent in reading the Bible to see the truth about all three!
 
The Scripture says we are the likeness of all three.  And there are so many scriptures to support this fact.  Expanding on Genesis 2:7 above,
 
Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.  The Old King James says, “man became a living soul”.
 
Paul declares to our being body, soul and spirit.
 
1 Thessalonians 5:3 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
 
Ok…hang on; we are going to peel away a layer of this onion.  Do you think it coincidence the number “3”, when used in the Bible, always depicts God’s grace?  And take a look at this: when God gave Moses instructions on building the Tabernacle, there were three distinct areas: the outer court, the Holy Place (the inner court) and the Holy of Holies.  This carried through to David’s instructions on building the temple, but let’s stick with the Tabernacle here. 

​The outer court was enclosed with a curtain and open to all.  It was a place which was continuously bustling with activities…this was the place where sin was dealt with.  Now “bronze” always symbolizes God’s judgement; both the alter and the laver (a big bowl of water where the High Priest and his priestly sons would wash in preparation to enter the Holy Place) were made of brass.  Interesting stories about brass in the bible: it was used for the alter in the outer court; the brass came from a revolt against Moses…and Solomon’s son Rehoboam, replaced gold stolen from the temple with polished brass…it’s hard to tell the difference…but another time. 
 
Notice there was only one way into the tabernacle?  (Like Jesus is the One Way…the Gate.)  The outer court is where the priests would offer sacrifices for the people, and where the High Priest and his sons would prepare themselves to enter the inner court, the Holy Place.  This outer court is like our body…our mind, our will and our emotions; full of the day to day hustle and bustle…active and continually busy. 
 
The inner court, the Holy place, could only be entered by the High Priest and his sons…in this case Aaron and his sons.  This is representative of the believer’s soul.  You have dealt with sin through Christ and are now in a Holy Place; a place to control and even rid yourself of emotions, thoughts of self and will power…a place to get close to God. 
 
Finally, the Holy of Holies was the place where God dwelt, the resting place for the Ark of the Covenant.  This area of the tabernacle could only be entered once a year by the High Priest.  This Holy of Holies is the believer’s spirit.  The spirit of the Trinity is united with our spirit and dwells within us.  While the outer court is noisy and busy, this is our quiet place…, the place we commune with the Holy Spirit; the place the Holy Spirit testifies to us of the truth, peace and eternity of our salvation.
 
So now, when you hear of a believer’s body being the “temple of God”,
 
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 
 
…you can better understand what it means.
 
John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
 
John 14:25-27 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. 
 
Upon departing from us, Jesus promised the Father would send us “another” Helper; the Holy Spirit; who would teach us all things and bring to our remembrance all the things He said while He was here on earth…notice the word “all”; not just some of the things, but “all” things.  And unlike the Old Testament characters, the Holy Spirit will abide with us forever!  That’s another hard one to get a grip on isn’t it? 
 
John goes on to encourage us to believe and rely on the Holy Spirit for our all…  
 
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
 
No…you can’t lay on the couch all day and expect to be an Einstein; don’t get stupid.  What God is saying is He doesn’t want you to run to and rely upon worldly wisdom.  Listen, there’s not a thing wrong with going to the doctor and taking your medicine, but the anointing abides in you!  God wants you to come to Him first for counsel and direction.  That’s why He has sent the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth who will guide you into all truth…and give you peace.  Face it, at its very best, the world can only give you temporary peace, if at all.  But you have an anointed peace which is not of the world. 
 
What is the primary job of the Holy Spirit?  John 16:14 says, His primary job is to glorify Jesus.  Oh, you thought His job was to nag you about your faults and failures?…convict you of your sins and bring to light all your failures and short comings?  Well, that’s not it at all; the Holy Spirit convicts the world, the unbeliever of his sin, just like He did you and all believers…but He doesn’t convict believers over and over of their sins- but of their righteousness.  And thankfully God anticipated the confusion.  He’s pretty clear about this and what the Holy Spirit will do in the world:
 
John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
 
Most of the messages you might have heard probably stop right here.  But God explains each one of these…
 
Vs 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; Unbelievers
Vs 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; Believers
Vs 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. It is finished     
 
And the Holy Spirit loves you!  Did you know that?  Paul highlights this fact when he asks for prayers from the believers in Rome:
 
Romans 15:30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 
 
Yes…the Holy Spirit is God…and He loves you.  Yet for some reason He is so misunderstood.  The Holy Spirit does not convict the believer of sin, but of his righteousness in Christ!  Learn more about Him and get acquainted with the lovely person of the Holy Spirit…come to an understanding of His vital role in your life.
 
How are we “lead” by the Holy Spirit?  Start with this, 
 
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
 
This peace comes from the help of the Holy Spirit reminding you to be righteousness-conscious- not sin conscious.  He is your guide to peace and reigning in life.  As you allow Him to remind you of the abundance of His grace and His gift of righteousness you have received through Christ, you'll begin to experience true heart transformation and genuine peace.
 
So who’s talking then?  Well, of God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit, who is the one on earth today?  Sure, strictly speaking, they all are, but they are here and helping you through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is as kind, stable, peaceful, powerful and loving as our Lord Jesus Christ.  And when He fills you, you take on the same characteristics…love, peace, joy, kindness, gentleness, etc.. 
 
Now don’t be confused about Him; the people’s reaction to the filling of the Holy Spirit varies widely, especially in charismatic churches.  But this is the individual’s reaction to the filling and not the Holy Spirit Himself!  So don’t think the Holy Spirit is that way with one person and another way with another person; the Holy Spirit is just like Jesus...just like our heavenly Father. 
 
And mark this…the Holy Spirit will never tell you to leave your spouse, lie, cheat on a deal or steal your neighbor’s lawnmower.  Whatever the Holy Spirit tells you will leave you with peace…not the world’s peace; but the peace coming to you from the love of the triune Godhead.  That Holy Spirit voice will always lead you to a place of peace where you will not be troubled or afraid. 
 
So get on top of who’s talking to you today.  When you are challenged, you will know His voice and His counsel.  He’s the One advising you to “Let not your heart be troubled or afraid”; the flesh will always point you to you…the Holy Spirit will always point you to Jesus.
 
And all you have to do is listen to Him…follow Him…to transform your mind and your spirit to be steered by His leadership.